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Travel Survival Challenge

A2 English · Your last class before Europe ✈️

Activity 01 · 5 minutes

Quick reaction: what would you say?

Let's warm up with quick, practical choices. Read each situation and ask Vale to say a useful sentence.

☕ Situation 1

The café worker is waiting. You want a cappuccino.

“Could I have a cappuccino, please?”

💳 Situation 2

You want to know if you can use your bank card.

“Can I pay by card?”

🔊 Situation 3

A person speaks too quickly. Ask them to repeat the information.

“Sorry, could you repeat that more slowly, please?”

Teacher tip: Hide the answers and give Vale five seconds to respond.

Activity 02 · 10 minutes

Supermarket shopping challenge

First, study the “cheat sheet”. Then look at the shopping list. The list only says the product — Vale must remember the correct quantity phrase!

🗣️ Useful questions

Can I help you?

Anything else?

How much is it?

Can I pay by card?

Would you like a bag?

🧠 Units of measure cheat sheet

a loaf of

a carton of

a bottle of

a can of

a bag of

a packet of

a jar of

a dozen

a bar of

a tub of

a slice of

a piece of

a cup of

a bowl of

Note: some products can be sold in different types of packaging.

🛒 Your shopping list

“You're staying in an apartment. Buy these things for breakfast and snacks.”

1. bread

2. milk

3. water

4. apples

5. biscuits

6. eggs

7. chocolate

8. jam

9. yoghurt

10. cola

Possible answers:
a loaf of bread · a carton of milk · a bottle of water · a bag of apples · a packet of biscuits · a dozen eggs · a bar of chocolate · a jar of jam · a tub of yoghurt · a can of cola.

Role-play: You are the shop assistant. Vale must request the items, ask for the total and pay. Keep the “Useful questions” box visible while she speaks.

Activity 03 · 15 minutes

At a restaurant in Edinburgh

A colourful menu with Scottish favourites. Vale is the customer; you are the waiter.

Scottish favourites

Haggis, neeps & tatties
Traditional savoury dish with turnip and potatoes£14.50

Cullen skink
Creamy smoked haddock soup£7.50

Scottish salmon
With potatoes and green vegetables£16.00

Fish and chips
Battered fish, chips and peas£13.50

Easy favourites

Margherita pizza
Tomato and mozzarella£11.00

Chicken and chips
Grilled chicken with chips£12.50

Tomato pasta
Pasta with tomato sauce£10.50

Light bites

Cheese toastie
Toasted cheese sandwich£7.00

Soup of the day£6.00

Desserts & drinks

Cranachan
Scottish cream, raspberries and oats£6.50

Shortbread£3.50

Tea / coffee£2.80

Irn-Bru / still water£2.50

Prices are fictional for classroom practice.

Conversation helper

Customer

Could I see the menu, please?

What do you recommend?

I'd like the …, please.

Does it contain …?

Could I have the bill, please?

Waiter asks

Are you ready to order?

Would you like anything to drink?

Anything else?

Is everything OK?

Surprise: The haggis is sold out today. Help Vale choose something else. Then say: “Sorry, we only take cash.”

🥣 Starter

Choose a soup or ask about the soup of the day.

🍽️ Main course

Try a Scottish dish or choose fish and chips.

🍓 Dessert

Would you like cranachan or shortbread?

Activity 04 · 10 minutes

At a café or takeaway

Look at each picture and act out the situation. Don't read a full dialogue.

☕ Situation A · Coffee break

You want a cappuccino and two croissants.

Order politely. Ask how much it costs. Pay by card.

🥪 Situation B · Takeaway lunch

You want a sandwich to take away.

Ask what is in the sandwich. Ask for a napkin.

Situation C · Something went wrong

You ordered tea, but you got coffee.

Explain the problem politely and ask for the correct drink.

Useful language: “For here or to take away?” · “To take away, please.” · “What is in it?” · “Could I have a napkin, please?” · “Sorry, I ordered tea.” · “That's all, thank you.”

Activity 05 · 10 minutes

Tourist survival phrases

Show one situation at a time. Vale chooses a phrase or makes her own sentence.

📍 Find a place

You're looking for the train station.

“Excuse me, how can I get to the train station?”

🔁 You don't understand

The person speaks too quickly.

“Sorry, could you repeat that, please?” / “Could you speak more slowly, please?”

🚻 Ask for facilities

You need to find a toilet.

“Excuse me, where is the nearest toilet?”

💳 Payment problem

Your card doesn't work.

“I'm sorry, my card isn't working. Can I try again?”

Activity 06 · 15 minutes

Final mission: one day in Europe

Vale has to complete all four missions. Don't show the next card until she finishes the current one!

MISSION 1

Breakfast

Go to a bakery. Order a coffee and two croissants. Ask the price.

MISSION 2

Supermarket

Buy bread, milk, apples and biscuits. Remember the units of measure.

MISSION 3

Lunch

Order a main course and a drink. The waiter says your first choice is unavailable.

MISSION 4

Train station

Ask where platform 4 is. You don't understand the answer — ask the person to repeat it slowly.

Teacher challenge: Add one unexpected question in each scene. Encourage Vale to ask for clarification instead of switching to Spanish.

Save this for your trip

Your travel English cheat sheet

You don't need perfect English. Be polite, speak slowly, and ask people to repeat things.

Ordering

I'd like …, please.

Can I have …, please?